Dervock girls gear
up...thanks to PIP

Ultoniae Cultural and Heritage Society has been awarded funding from Peace Impact Programme (PIP II) to address social imbalances within the North Antrim area.

This tranche (2016) has allowed the Dervock based group to target specific groups especially women and local youths that are under-represented within the North Antrim community.

Abbie Stewart. INbm20-16s

Thanks to the funding, the Society offered free driving lessons, capped at 10 lessons per customer, to a number of applicants from throughout the community.

Project Coordinator Frankie Cunningham from Ultoniae Cultural and Heritage Society explained: “Capacity building, whether at individual or community level, certainly transforms and acknowledges that sense of personal achievement and improvement.

“So to remove any specific obstacle for example transport and returning to employment whether part-time or full-time we offered free driving lessons to increase the opportunity of gaining employment and academic furtherance.

“Back in March we appealed for applications from within band forums, loyal institutions, ex-combatants, individuals or single identity groups (PUL community) that would like to avail of this opportunity. We recieved many applications however the committee judged each individually and awarded those whose need was to gaining employment.

Frankie Cunningham with Toni Parkhill. inbm20-16s

“And I am delighted that Abbie Stewart, Toni Parkhill and Roberta Inch McMaster recently passed their driving test thanks to the scheme. This will now help them to gain either employment or continued education. Well done Ladies!!”

Mr Cunningham added, “I would like to take this opportunity to thank International Fund for Ireland and to acknowledge the funding received through their ‘PIPS’ initiative for this project.

Also within the funding application, ‘Local Empowerment’ was framed to allow for an individual or individuals to return to Further Education whether part-time or full-time. This was examined and delivered in PIPs I Employability and Training programmes and continues to deliver opportunities for those identified to gain employment.